Good food policy and a national child care program. What are the links?

Excerpts

Our starting points

• “Food is a cultural, social, educational and aesthetic experience, as well as a necessity for good health.” – Peter Moss.
• Good meals are an essential part of good early learning and care.
• Good food policy should be part of a good child care policy.

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Current policy context

• Provincial/territorial licensing regulations lay out requirements for food provision in regulated child care programs.

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Provincial/territorial context con’t.

• A few provinces require menus to be posted.
• Even the provinces that do require centres to provide meals, do not require them to be prepared on site.
• Generally, PT’s require centres to “follow the Canada Food Guide” when food is provided. 

As a result…

• There is great variation in the food and meal experiences provided in licensed child care programs.
  • Some provide meals on-site
  • Some require parents to send boxed lunches.
• Some programs have on-site kitchens and cooks on staff to prepare meals. Others use outside catering.

Despite this context

• Some programs provide excellent food and meal experiences.
• Good child care programs view food and meals as part of the pedagogical process not separate from it.
• Growing food, preparing it, sharing it and enjoying it are integral parts of the care and education of young children.

Beyond box lunches and the Canada Food Guide…

• At their most rigorous, child care licensing standards specify adherence to the Canada Food Guide as the pinnacle of good food.
• So while good child care programs recognize the importance of growing, cooking and eating fresh, local and culturally appropriate food, this is far from the norm.
• How do we make good, healthy food the norm in early learning and child care?

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Reconciliation and the role of ECEC

• The Truth and Reconciliation called upon “the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Aboriginal families.”
• An Assembly of First Nations survey found that 78% of children up to the age of five have no access to licensed child care.

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Linking national child care policy and national food policy

• Good child care programs that already go beyond basic policy requirements can serve as models for school food programs. These programs:
  • integrate food, food systems and curriculum;
  • value the nutritional and social aspects of food and meal times;
  • value the care of children as a key part of their education.
• Good food needs to be seen as part of the child care system that we're aiming for. Good food policy needs to be incorporated into child care policy.